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We have a free Mental Health and Debt guide available for anyone to download so if you're struggling please do take a look!

Has being in debt caused you stress and anxiety?

We're launching a poll to see how many of you have had mental health issues. We've kept responses private so other forum users won't see who's voted in the poll. If you'd like to reply below and discuss that would be great but don't feel you have to.

Just now I feel run over with my financial situation. I'm currently in receipt of ESA as my doctor has said even though I have days, weeks even where I feel great he has told me my depression, anxiety and stress are unstable mostly due to my ex being awful when we split and for the past 2 years I have had a massive fight just to see my kids.

She left me in 90% of the debt I have just now - tried to sort that out but as it was a catalog which was fully in my name I don't have much recourse to solve that.

Last June I got my own place - ok it was a dump but mentally was doing well, think that was because I had a focus on doing the flat up and was managing most of the debt.

Now though love having my place but unfortunately with that my financial priorities have had to change to make sure I can afford the flat. So since about November my debt has got to a point of totally unable to pay what the companies want. So I need to do something, that is whats getting me down is the anxiety around getting things sorted so I can recover.

Not sure if anyone has managed that. It is certainly a good point but from my personal pov I doubt I would try to get my debt written off this way down to the stress it would cause to prove it and cause me more issues.

I would say tackling the debt head on via Stepchange or that would be more beneficial as you have the options there.

I'm right at the start of the process and was offered to file for bankruptcy but declined it as in the grand scheme of things my debts are rather small think under £5k.

Being honest something I have never really thought of before would love to see others views.

Well this is anther angle on that theme, there was a case on the forum I advised on, a couple of years ago, were a posters mother had mental health issues, and had taken out a lot of credit, in her child's name.

Of course when the mother didn't pay, the debt collectors came after the OP, from what I can gather the OP had a hell of a job convincing the creditors of her story.

That particular thread has been quiet for a while now, so I do not know the outcome of it all, I`m hoping the OP managed to find some resolution to the mess she was in, but without certifiable medical evidence, which is extremely hard to obtain in cases like this, its one persons word against another, the mother forged signature's on credit agreements too, so as far as the lender was concerned the OP was liable for the debts.

I have suffered with Depression for the last 15 years and my debt started around that time.
My debt fed my depression and subsequent anxiety and my depression fed my debt.
I would go shopping to cheer myself up or go out drinking, not thinking about what I was spending, the high would be short lived and I would go into a deep depression again with the guilt. This cycle continued. I never really saw the connection between my debt and MH until I was honest with myself.
It reached a head when I became suicidal. I was so embarrassed about my debt I couldn't tell anyone and the only reason I didn't kill myself was the worry about the shame of what I would leave behind for my loved ones to see.
I ended up in excess of £30k debt with nothing to show for it other than severe depression (there were a lot of other factors involved). I declared myself bankrupt in March 2014. I still cant tell my close friends about this because of the shame and its hard when you are trying to keep up with people (part of the problem!).
I am a discharged Bankrupt now but will be paying my IPO for over another year.
I still suffer with depression and anxiety but am finding other ways to manage it and have been off my medication for nearly 6 months.
It is a battle and always will be but I will never see myself in that much debt again.

I have suffered with Depression for the last 15 years and my debt started around that time.
My debt fed my depression and subsequent anxiety and my depression fed my debt.
I would go shopping to cheer myself up or go out drinking, not thinking about what I was spending, the high would be short lived and I would go into a deep depression again with the guilt. This cycle continued. I never really saw the connection between my debt and MH until I was honest with myself.
It reached a head when I became suicidal. I was so embarrassed about my debt I couldn't tell anyone and the only reason I didn't kill myself was the worry about the shame of what I would leave behind for my loved ones to see.
I ended up in excess of £30k debt with nothing to show for it other than severe depression (there were a lot of other factors involved). I declared myself bankrupt in March 2014. I still cant tell my close friends about this because of the shame and its hard when you are trying to keep up with people (part of the problem!).
I am a discharged Bankrupt now but will be paying my IPO for over another year.
I still suffer with depression and anxiety but am finding other ways to manage it and have been off my medication for nearly 6 months.
It is a battle and always will be but I will never see myself in that much debt again.

Would you be able to give us your experiance of the Bankrupcy process ?
New rules are due to come into force in April to make the whole thing easier, people who are in a similar position, and are concidering Bankrupcy, may benefit from knowing what to expect.

Would you be able to give us your experiance of the Bankrupcy process ?
New rules are due to come into force in April to make the whole thing easier, people who are in a similar position, and are concidering Bankrupcy, may benefit from knowing what to expect.

The thought of the Bankruptcy and the worrying about the process caused me a great deal of stress and anxiety. But it was the thought of it that was the worst part. The actual attending court was a very smooth process. I didn't see the Judge and the person I saw couldn't have been nicer.
The problem with MH is the anxiety of it all and thinking that the worst will happen and getting worked up and panicked when the reality was no where near as bad.
I mentioned my MH throughout my application and this was never questioned. I could have got supporting evidence from my medical records if required but it was never asked for.
I had my OH with me at court which was a support as I don't think I could have gone by myself so I would recommend someone to go with you if at all possible. It was honestly a very smooth process. The hardest part was filling in the paperwork which I found stressful but got some advice for this.
All you can do is be honest. I just felt relief afterwards and yes I was still anxious and stressed about sorting a bank account and my job and all the other thoughts going around my head but I couldn't have carried on with the debt. Everything else was sorted quite easily. I was mortified going to the bank and opening a basic account and explaining my situation but again they couldn't have been nicer.
I had an interview on the phone with the OR which was quite stressful, more so than going to court. I couldn't stop crying with pure stress and emotion and the OR was quite stern but I got through it. They sent me a letter for my IPO which was an unrealistic amount and I was scared and anxious about that. I wrote back and offered what I could pay realistically and it was accepted.
I never started my debt ever thinking that I would become Bankrupt but I have accepted it now and the fact that I am now not worrying on a daily basis about where I can get money from to pay for this or that or how I can turn down tea out or being upset from cancelling on friends because I cant afford it, means that I have slowly managed to get myself sorted.
Yes I am ashamed of it all but I have faced up to it which was not easy.
I hope this helps someone.

I've been in and out of debt since I was 18 years old and it was first offered to me by eager banks with student overdrafts...... I've also suffered from serious mental health problems since I was around 15. I've cleared and racked up £10k ish debts twice now; there's definitely a correlation that I've only spotted in more recent years as I've started to really try hard to get a firm grip on my mental health and be a more responsible adult! (I'm 34 now.)

I recently read the MSE mental health and debt guide. I'd never really linked the two together before, but I've asked my doctor to write me a wee note explaining my MH issues and the treatment, and I'm going to send it to Stepchange and my creditors, just to make them aware.

Spending money (I usually don't have) has always, ALWAYS been a quick fix for me when I'm feeling badly overwhelmed or depressed. I really wish I could break that cycle for good. I'm in a much better place now, in a loving relationship, have a stable job, etc. I'm about midway to clearing current debts and I'm opening an ISA to save for a mortgage deposit and have signed up to my workplace pension scheme. So I'm doing ok at the moment, but deep down I am terrified about the future and any potential trip-ups.

Has anyone found any good guidance or advice for mainting a healthy attitude towards money when your mental health is failing? I would really love to be prepared as well as I can for the future.

Hello everyone, I too am a survivor of depression as well as complex PTSD which was caused by a fifteen years domestic abuse. Thankfully I and my children now 22 and 16 left in 2007 and we are doing well. When I left I had over £25000 savings and little mortgage. As you can imagine that soon changed! I had to buy a new house and had a modest £75,000 repayment mortgage. All well and good! However, I overspent to such a degree that my mortgage is now a £94500 interest only as I consolidated debts into it. My badges say I am debt free and so I was for a glorious three months - until I became more depressed than usual and ran up a car loan of £4000 for a car I did not need and £1000 on a credit card.

I have read and re-read the MSE Mental Health and Debt guide over the years and haunt the MSE forums! Very gradually I have made improvements to the extent that although I am in debt now I have stopped myself spending more and have a budget that I generally stick to. My overspends are on groceries (so much for the £3000 spent on a popular quick results starvation diet two years ago!)

I am and will probably be medicated for the rest of my days but I am not ashamed of that. It's like insulin for a diabetic, absolutely necessary. What does cause me shame is my spending history but I am overcoming that.

Here are some of the things that have helped me in no particular order....

The Samaritans when I felt suicidal and alone. They are excellent! Please call them if you are in despair.

My GP who I was very honest with and one of my sisters. It is worth taking a risk and trusting even just one person with your burden. Which brings me onto ........

CAP UK - absolutely could not recommend them highly enough. I went on their free money management course and we worked out a budget together. I still use their spreadsheet which I have access to for life. Don't be put off by the fact they are Christians if you are not. They don't preach and are motivated to help without judgement. If you are in desperate straights they will also completely free of charge handle every single one of the companies and people chasing you for money. They work out a manageable repayment plan with you and the companies and you get loads of prepaid envelopes so you can send letters straight on to them. No more having to read stressful letters! PLEASE look them up on line as they will help no matter how bad you think your situation is.

YNAB budget spreadsheet - having moved forward I now access this every day. It does cost money but has helped me to keep on top of everything since things have got better. Possibly one for when you have got to a more comfortable place in life.

My bank & my mortgage company both know that I have mental health challenges which can affect my spending. I have voluntary notes on file that if I ask for additional borrowing of any kind they are not to give it to me. If I insist then they are to contact my trusted person (my sister) and ask her about my current state of health. This might seem dramatic but it gives me far more peace of mind knowing that they know and it gives me more reason to be disciplined.

Strange one but I reduced my hours at work last year when I had just got the car loan. I now work four days per week. It might seem stupid to do this but it worked for me. I am less stressed and have a day to recover my mental health and regroup. This is the day when I try to take more care of myself and can gather my strength. It has also stopped me spending so much money and I actually have more money available at the end of the month than when I earned £5000 more per year. It might work for some of you too!

Having a simple cash account with no overdraft facility. All banks do them and they have no problem setting one up for you. I have one account for all my direct debits and then another for groceries, petrol, entertainment of ten pounds per week and my daughter's allowance of a fiver a week. I send £300 to it per month and take out the £90 per week that I need. When it's gone it's gone.

Catching myself doing something right - even on my bleakest days I try hard to think of everything I have achieved in my life or that week.

We are all survivors of the most cruel and nasty disease and we deserve credit for actually getting up in the mornings and getting on with life. Every day we move forward is a day towards our brighter future and I think you are all marvellous! Much love and best wishes to everyone on here. xxxx

So this is some inspiration for those of you who are struggling, I had lots of debt..and mental illness...I became bankrupt. Took medication and was not able to work for 4 years. The medication and help really helped and I am happy to say I managed to work on my credit rating and file over the 6 years the bankruptcy loomed over me, I have now been accepted for a mortgage and have a high street bank account and credit card that reward me £5 a month each for being with them...Credit rating is excellent... there is a light at the end of the tunnel I aim to clear my debts by 2018 from buying my home and all the belongings I have bought for my home, keep fighting and trying! Have something to aim for to keep going!

Sold over £1500 worth of tat hanging around, switched banks, rewarded for spending on Credit cards, cancelled unused subscriptions...Over £8000 better off over 30 months...AIMING FOR DEBT FREE BY JULY 2018!!

I do believe that debt can cause mental stress, and possibly illness, but it depends on the person. We all know that careless "free spirit" who "lives for the now" and has tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Yet they seem relatively stress free compared to many neurotic, debt free individuals (myself being one). So I would say it depends on the person.

Completely agree. I've struggled with anxiety and depression for 30 years and am now 52. I worked as a nurse and Nurse Practitioner for 28 years until 2009 when we moved abroad. Have no intention of going back to the NHS. Depression is always there and I can't imagine or remember life without it now. Often worse when I'm stressed, have to make a lot of decisions or big changes are going on, and after I had my son I was very depressed for about 2 years. Seems to be developing a bigger anxiety/panic component too now that I'm older. I've never had excessive debt and don't have a credit card. Our credit score is useless since returning from living abroad (where we spent 5 years working on getting an excellent credit score!). Have no debt or income at all now -living off savings and down sized to a cheap flat on return from living abroad. Planning to get my miniscule NHS pension of £500 per month very soon and buy a rural property somewhere in France or Spain. TBH the last thing I think about when I'm low is shopping as I have no interest in doing anything except sleeping and certainly no point in buying clothes when you hate the way you look. Apart from 3 sessions of CBT 20 something years ago after a single pyschiatry consultation I've never been offered any therapy. I did try privately once when my son was about 4 but couldn't affford the £30 per week.
I honestly think that this horrible materialistic society that we live in is a huge contributory factor in the disintegration of our society. Life is much simpler with less.

I got through 10 years and 25K of debt doing this^, lived abroad etc, pay minimal and have some social/good life

SO... now England its the Scots turn to say dont leave the UK, stay in Europe with us in the UK, dont let the tories fool you like they did us with empty lies... You will be leaving the UK aswell as Europe

Completely agree. I've struggled with anxiety and depression for 30 years and am now 52. I worked as a nurse and Nurse Practitioner for 28 years until 2009 when we moved abroad. Have no intention of going back to the NHS. Depression is always there and I can't imagine or remember life without it now. Often worse when I'm stressed, have to make a lot of decisions or big changes are going on, and after I had my son I was very depressed for about 2 years. Seems to be developing a bigger anxiety/panic component too now that I'm older. I've never had excessive debt and don't have a credit card. Our credit score is useless since returning from living abroad (where we spent 5 years working on getting an excellent credit score!). Have no debt or income at all now -living off savings and down sized to a cheap flat on return from living abroad. Planning to get my miniscule NHS pension of £500 per month very soon and buy a rural property somewhere in France or Spain. TBH the last thing I think about when I'm low is shopping as I have no interest in doing anything except sleeping and certainly no point in buying clothes when you hate the way you look. Apart from 3 sessions of CBT 20 something years ago after a single pyschiatry consultation I've never been offered any therapy. I did try privately once when my son was about 4 but couldn't affford the £30 per week.
I honestly think that this horrible materialistic society that we live in is a huge contributory factor in the disintegration of our society. Life is much simpler with less.

30 years would point to clinical depression of some type, worsened as you said by stress and other factors, afterbirth too. Stress & big changes setting you off could be bipolar or personality disorder spectrums. Which are often diagnosed as depression only.

You will know if MH is in the family, read up online mental health disorders and get some help, you will enjoy life more for your latter years

SO... now England its the Scots turn to say dont leave the UK, stay in Europe with us in the UK, dont let the tories fool you like they did us with empty lies... You will be leaving the UK aswell as Europe

This is a great thread! I have PTSD and bouts of severe depression although I hide both of them fairly well. Most people can't believe it when I say I have an anxiety disorder or depression.

For me, I grew up poor. Money was never an issue because we didn't have any. The way debt impacts my mental health now is only due to the fact that I'm married and he has very different views towards finances. And so when I hide debt from him, it definitely adds to my stress and anxiety for sure. I have been suicidal over telling him about debt (see my first post) and to honest it's on my mind constantly right now. I have attempted in the past but won't again because for whatever reason, people in my life actually like me (currently my husband is not one of those people) and I think my death by suicide would devastate them. However, if I got run over by a car or if I just went to sleep and never woke up, I'd be okay with that.

But my mother always says 'This too will pass' and that little statement is what keeps me going.

it has with me i have 4-5 times being off work with what i thought was severe depression/stress due too financial issues/work stress. Its only within the last 6 months i have being diagnosed with cyclothymia and i am on different meds.

Its being a long long road the nhs are a nightmare re mental health they chuck antidepressants at you, i have had 6-7 years of one med after another after another. Due too me being on and off work its only within the last year i have started getting my finances sorted. I am now coping much better my finances are slowly getting better i am with cccs.

re did my debts get caused by mental health answer yes i used too spent horrendously on credit cards clothes, takeaways, dvds, hols, nights out. I did in the past have major issues not going into too much detail with alcohol and credit cards funded that problem.

I have lurked on this forum on and off over the years and for the last 5 years I have racked up almost £12,000 in credit card debt. I am not proud of my life at 34 as I have nothing to show for it, I have battled stress and depression mainly on my own as I don't have a loved one, I have also spent much of my adult life not being able to find a fulfilling career. I am currently working in contract work as I left a job that was far too stressful.
Well I am pleased to say that after paying down my debt over the years I am very close to my debt free date (it should be a couple of months at the most). I really thought I would never see my DFD.
I will very soon have a clean slate. I still battle with sad times and have even recently gone on a shopping spree when I was feeling low. I realise this has to stop as I have no savings or deposit towards a first home. It's easy to get hung up on what I don't have so I am going to hold my head up and enjoy the immense relief when I have paid off those credit cards.
I have a Help To Buy ISA which has a minimal amount in it, I will also need to look into other savings accounts.
I was renting a room and over the last year I moved back in with my parents with the idea of saving a deposit for a first home. Only I haven't really saved I have just been paying down debt. I feel like a sorry loser for being in this situation and am currently deciding whether to rent a room again or save for the long haul.
Just to offer my support for anyone battling debt and whose health may have suffered with it.

This is so fundamentally true -- for me anyway. I should have it written up above my front door in letters of fire. I am trying to face up to half a lifetime's worth of being in this cycle and have joined DFW today for that reason. Thanks Diamonds - you really are a diamond.

Some of the stories that I have read on here have been very emotional to read. It does prove that debt, no matter the level, can cause stress, anxiety, depression to varying degrees.

I have been in debt since I was 18 for one reason or another. Events in my life have caused me to increase debts almost overnight (Losing job due to relocating etc)

I have experienced sleep loss, waking up in the middle of the night worried about debts, even fear of telling my wife and my debts are no where near as high as some other people on here.

I have now embarked on my journey to being debt free. Admitting I had a problem was the first step and has taken some of the weight off my shoulders but knowing that there are other people in a similar position as myself makes me feel much better and not as alone.

Good luck to all in your debt free quest! After all we wouldnt be here if we didnt want to be debt free!

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